Humidifier



Sept 8, 1931 c. J. cowMAN 1,822.644

HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 2, 1930,

grax/nto@ Eri-Emma- FI-r.- E We Patented Sept. 8, 1931 CLIFFORD JQCOWMAN, OF MALLARD, IOWA HUMIDIFIER Application filed October 2, 1930.Serial No. 486,039.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an efiicienthumidifier for all enclosed spaces that require the atmosphere thereinto possess a relatively great moisture a content, such as cigar cases,incubators, and

the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a humidifier thatsuccessfully supplies moisture uniformly to all parts of the case or lhousing in which it functions.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a humidifier thatis easily installed in a case and when once installed provides a supportfor objects such as cigar boxes.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a humidifier thatrequires a minimum number of water replenishings over a certain periodof time.`

A still further object of my invention is to provide a humidifier thatis economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts -of the device, whereby the objects contemplatedare attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in myclaims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my complete humidifier with sections cutaway to illus` trate its construction.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional viewof the device taken on line 2-2of Fig.1, and more fully shows its interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a section of the trough.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a portion of the perforated metal lid of theinvention.

The familiar humidifier now on the market uses a container for holdingthe water and a wick or wicks extending from the container. Suchhumidifiers are objectionable as the loose wicks often become detachedfrom the container, require constant attention and are more moist nearthe container than some distance away from the container, therebyproviding uneven moistening of the atmosphere and have an outsidediameter slightly less Y than the inside diameter of the frame 10, assho-wn in 1. This retaining wall 12 extends to a height approximatelythe height of the frame 1() and should be so tightly attached to themember 11 that liquid will not `pass between the bottom of the retainingwall 12 and the top surface of the slab 11. In the drawings I show nails13 and cement which vis not numbered.

Loosely resting on the top of the slab 11 and inside the retaining wall12 is a sheet wick 14 of asbestos or other suitable highly absorbentmaterial. The numeral 15 designates a comparatively small elongatedbottomless trough resting on and approximately in the center of the wick14. This trough is held in place by being rigidly secured to the slab 11by suitable means such as small nails. The numeral 16 designates smalloutlet ports in the lower portion of each side of the trough 15. rTheseports 16 are adjacent the wick 14 and permit water from the trough 15 torapidly pass and spread out. over the wick 14. The numeral 17 designatesa porous sheet secured by suitable means to the top of the frame 10 andcompletely covering the same. It is recommended that rthis porous sheetbe made of suitable non-rust ing metal such as sheet aluminum or thelike. The numeral 18 designates a plurality of supporting bars nailed ontop of the porous member 17V and nailed rigidly to the frame or wall 12and the trough 15.

The numeral 19 designates strengthening and filling bars secured on theundersideV of the slab 11. These bars are of such dimension as to extenddownto a plane common to the bottom of the frame 10. The numeral 2Odesignates air ports in the lower portions of the tra-me 10 and bars 19for permitting air to circulate to and reach the bottom of the slab 11.

The numeral 21 designates a. water filling opening in the member 17 anddirectly above the trough 15.

To use my invention it is merely necessary to place the same inside thecase or enclosure desired to be kept at proper humidity and place waterinto the trough 15 through the opening 21.

This water in the trough 15 will engage the wick 14 at the bottom ot'the trough, and will by capillary action conduct the water completelyacross and over the slab 11. This passing ot' the water from the trough15 is also aided by the small outlet ports 16 in the two sides et thetrough 15 which permits the water in the trough to run out and over thewick 14. It suflicient water is placed in the trough 15 it willeventually completely saturate the slab 11. its the wick 14 starts todry by the evaporation of the water moisture in the same it will proceedto draw additional moisture from the moisture retaining slab 11,however, the slab 11 is compara tively thick and is capable ofreservoiring a great amount of water, the device will continue toproperly `function for a comparatively great length of time, therebyeliniinating frequent iillings of the trough 15. By the slab 11supporting the complete underside of the wick 14, the total surface o'llthe wick 14 will be evenly moist at all times from the slab 11, therebyuniformly nioistening the air inside the enclosure having thehumidifier.

By the construction ot my humidifier as herein disclosed, it will benoted that there are no parts to become detached one from the othereither during use or shipping. By the retaining wall 12 being sealed tothe slab 11 there is no danger of placing an excess amount of water 4inthe device which would otherwise pass through to the bottom of the trame10 with a possibility of damaging other objects also inside the case.

The ports 20 allow air to circulate under the slab 11 which not onlyaids in humiditying the air inside the case but prevents any molding or'itoul air to exist at the bottom of the invention. By the wick 14covering the upper surface of the slab 11, the undesirable -apid dryingot, the slab 11 is eliminated.

The device occupies very little space inside an enclosure such as acigar case and after being placed in the case, cigar boxes or the like,may be placed on the supporting bars 18.

If it is desired all of the parts that go to make up my device exceptthe slab 11 and wick 1li may be made ot metal. Two or more wicks may beused instead of the single wick 141 and when this is done the top wickshould not extend into the trough but should merely rest on top of thelower wick. In Figure 2,

I have shown an extra wick on top of the wick 14 and which I havedesignated by the numeral 22.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement o1 myimproved humidiiier without departing from the rea-l spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intentie-n to cover by my claims anymodiiied forms oli structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame, a thick sheet ofpervious material secured in said frame, a compa atively thin wickmember resting on said comparatively thick sheet of pervious materialand a. container designed to receive liquid and communicating with saidcomparatively thin sheet ot material.

2. In a device of the class described, a slab of pervious material, aframe embracing said slab, a sheet wick of absorbent material resting onthe top surface of said slab, a trough open at its bottom secured on topoi said sheet of absorbent material, and a porous metallic sheetinclosing the top of said frame and secured to said frame and the top ofsaid trough.

3. In a device of the class described, a slab oli' pervious material, aframe embracing said slab, a sheet wick of absorbent material resting onthe top surface of said slab, a trough open at its bottom secured on topof said sheet of absorbent material, a porous metallic sheet inclosingthe top of said frame, and supporting bars on top oli said porous sheetsecured to said trame and the top oit said trough.

4. In a device of the class described, a slab et pervicus material, aframe embracingsaid slab, a sheet wick of absorbent material resting onthe top surface ci said slab, a trough open at its bottom secured on topof said sheet of absorbent material, a porous metallic sheet inclosingthe top of said frame having a iilling opening above said trough,supporting bars on top of said porous sheet, and air passageways in thellower portions ot said frame which permits air to circulate below saidslab.

CLIFFORD J. COIVMAN.

